From the classroom to the newsroom

 

The University of Rhode Island’s journalism department just got significantly more prestigious. While the department already  boasts many successful current or former professional reporters, it now has the Sports Editor of the Providence Journal, Bill Corey.

Corey, who has been teaching at URI since 2006, lives a double life of sorts. He has spent over 20 years working as a professional reporter and editor, as well as ten years as a professor here at URI.

“In my new role as editor, it is challenging,” said Corey. “Right now, leaving Providence and coming here to teach a class can be a little stressful but I’m making the most of it.”

Corey decided to come back thanks to his former journalism professor, and the former department head Linda Levin. Levin reached out to Corey and asked if he would be interested in teaching a class or two at the University.

“I had never really taught a class before,” Corey admitted. “She had a lot of faith in me, and I really enjoyed it. It was something I didn’t think I would enjoy as much as I have. It’s been rewarding in a lot of ways.”

Corey, who has spent the last year and a half working at The Boston Herald, recently returned to the Providence Journal to take over as the new sports editor. “The journal has always been a special place, and I was fortunate to come back,” Corey said.

Corey, who has spent much of his career working at the Providence Journal, spoke highly of the Journal when he returned.

“We are probably the most complete sports [and] news outlet in the state, we cover the Red Sox and Patriots with our own staff [as well as] the college scene and high school,” Corey said.

Corey found his place in sports reporting a long time ago. As a student at URI, he worked as an intern covering a local high school football team. After graduation from the University, he went on to general news reporting. While working at the Providence Journal during his first stint with the paper a spot opened up for him on the team, and he jumped at the opportunity. He decided to take a job as the night sports editor for two reasons.

“A, I’m very interested in sports, and B, it gave me a lot more experience in online journalism,” Corey said.

He went on to say that becoming the nighttime editor of the journal allowed him to be more involved with the paper, and it gave him more skills and tools with online content. “It’s vital in this business today, it’s not just learning how to write a story or a headline, it’s being able to put stories out on various platforms”.

Now that Corey has returned to the paper, he already has a vision for the sports department under his leadership. “My goal is to continue the tradition of the sports department, which is to cover sports better than anyone else in the state.” Corey added that they will also look to cover the Red Sox and Patriots better than anybody else in Rhode Island, as well as any athletes in the state.

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